Liverpool's young defender Calum Scanlon is set for a temporary departure from Anfield. The 21-year-old football player has reached the stage of signing with Cardiff City for the 2026/27 season. According to the Daily Mail, Scanlon is close to returning to Cardiff City, where he played on loan in the second half of last season.

Scanlon was one of the young players in Andoni Iraola's summer programme, playing in all three matches during Liverpool's preliminary tour in the US. In the absence of some experienced players due to the World Cup, opportunities arose for academy and reserve players. Scanlon showed his potential by playing more than 90 minutes in total in the friendly matches against Sunderland, Wrexham and Leeds.

However, the long-awaited reality was that playing regular first division football would be required elsewhere. While Cardiff City is working hard to win Scanlon back, Sheffield Wednesday is also reportedly making efforts to reach the player. However, the current environment and familiarity may be determining factors in this transfer.

Scanlon played in eight matches during his previous loan spell in Cardiff and made a significant contribution to his team's promotion to the Championship. This experience gives him a significant advantage in taking him back to Cardiff.

At Liverpool, Scanlon's chances of finding a place in the first team are very limited. In the left-back position, Milos Kerkez and Kostas Tsimikas are ahead of him. Therefore, a loan transfer is seen as a logical step in terms of squad management. Iraola and the club's transfer and development team know that there is value in placing the young player in a position that allows him to play properly and excel under pressure.

Scanlon has gone through a difficult time with injuries the last two years and it has disrupted his rhythm. He has not competed in a game for Liverpool's first team since playing in the Europa League towards the end of 2023. This increases the importance of finding a solid platform for this season.

The belief in Scanlon's talent level remains. Jürgen Klopp has described him as “an enjoyable player to watch”, an assessment that reflects his technical quality and attacking instincts in previous support. A return to the Championship offers him the chance to rebuild consistency, sharpen his defensive skills and prove he can stay healthy for a full season.

If this transfer happens, Liverpool will consider it as a strategic step. Cardiff City could be the right stage for Scanlon, offering regular football, responsibility and the opportunity to further his promise.Liverpool fans should be pleased with this kind of planning. Not every young player needs to make a big splash at Anfield right away. Sometimes the best way is to step away for a while, play regularly, learn the rough edges of the game, and come back stronger. This is especially true for a player who has been disrupted by injuries.